Please be firm but polite and respectful.

Talking Points: there are many questions that need to be considered.

--Why was there a secretive selection process that led to the sole nomination of Benson? And how did Benson get special exemptions when he doesn't even hold the basic requirements for the position, such as any post graduate degree, academic research, or any experience in higher education administration? (Denver Post, February 1, 2008; Boulder Daily Camera, February 4, 2008)

-- Why hasn't there been an investigation into Benson's threat to finance attack ads against current CU Regent Paul Schauer (R-6th CD), prior to Schauer's vote on Benson's nomination, if Schauer decided to run for reelection? (Rocky Mountain News, January 31, 2008)

--Why, in a memo recently made public, did Benson claim that it was his "public responsibility" to erode tenure, the backbone of higher education? (Inside Higher Ed, February 7, 2008)

--How will Benson's role as a founding member of the Trailhead group, a 527 political attack organization that targeted key lawmakers including the Current Chair of the Joint Budget Committee and Governor Ritter, affect appropriations for CU? (Colorado Daily, 2/4/2008)

--Why did Benson, an oil executive, refuse to acknowledge the evidence of climate change, claiming there was "good and bad research" on the issue? (Denver Post, February 5, 2008)

--Why did Benson give $1,000 to the the legal defense fund of former U.S. Senator Bob Packwood who was accused of sexual harassment? (Colorado Daily, February 4, 2008)

--How will that fact that Benson has two DUIs on his record affect to the CU community, which has worked hard under the leadership of Hank Brown to rid itself of the image of an alcohol-ridden campus? (Colorado Daily, 2/4/2008)?

For Immediate Release
Monday, February 18, 2008
Contact:  Michael Huttner
(303) 931-4547

Denver: ProgressNow today released over 1500 names and comments opposing Bruce Benson nomination to be the CU next President, including over 250 CU faculty, students and staff who have gone on the record in opposition to Benson.

"At the risk of retaliation hundreds of faculty students and staff are going on the record opposing Benson," stated Michael Huttner, Executive Director of ProgressNow, Colorado's largest online advocacy organization. "We need the public to call on the CU Regents to reopen the process and find someone less divisive."

The updated information for the contacting the swing votes can be found at http://boycottbenson.com.

To view all the comments visit:

http://www.progressnowaction.org/allbensoncomments

ProgressNow also unveiled a half-page newspaper ad set to run tomorrow, displaying the names of hundreds of opponents to Benson's nomination. To view the ad, click on the links below:

http://progressnowaction.org/bensonadlow (low resolution, 2.5MB)
http://progressnowaction.org/bensonadhigh (full quality, 17.5MB)
 
Sample Quotes from staff students and faculty

"Benson does not possess the credentials necessary to run the flagship university in the state of Colorado.  He holds an undergraduate degree in geology, is from an oil and gas background, questions climate change research, and is not fit to lead CU-Boulder."

Sarah Vieweg

"It is appalling that such a partisan, political figure is the SOLE finalist for an institution such as CU, which is striving to regain its high academic reputation after a difficult decade."

Margaret Whelan

"As students, faculty and staff, at the very least, we deserve a CHOICE in candidates, instead of the continued single options we are "offered." Even if he were a great candidate, at least respect the university community enough to provide actual options. Surely there is more than one single person in the entire United States who is potentially capable of running this fine university."

Shannon Szameitat

# # #

Coloradans Call for Boycott of Bruce Benson for CU President

For Immediate Release
Monday, February 4, 2008
Contact: Michael Huttner, Executive Director
(303) 931-4547

Denver: ProgressNow is submitting hundreds of names and comments from Coloradans calling for a boycott of Bruce Benson as the sole candidate in the search for a new CU president.  Below are just some of the hundreds of comments expressing concern of Benson's nomination as the sole candidate.  

To view comments received as of Monday morning, visit:

http://www.progressnowaction.org/bensoncomments

"We are calling on the public to visit www.boycottbenson.com to oppose Benson's nomination to be CU's next President," stated ProgressNow's Executive Director Michael Huttner. "The regents must halt the selection process until an investigation can be completed."

Sample Comments:

"I am very concerned about the fact that in 2006, Benson founded and funded the Trailhead Group, a right-wing 527 political action fund that was investigated for running questionable negative ads attacking sitting lawmakers... (Boulder Daily Camera, February 1, 2008)."  --Susi Devrient, Boulder

"The fact that this man would threaten one of his future boss[es] with a 527 is reason enough to NOT allow him to obtain this position." --G. Richard Rabb, Douglas County

"...This smacks of the worst kind of patronage and cronyism, and as a dual alumnus of CU, I join in the demand that the process be investigated and, if necessary, re-started." --Casey Mulligan, Boulder

"Colorado needs the next CU President to be a qualified academic, with demonstrated ability to relate to political people of both major parties and all political views. This choice, of someone with record of demonstrated partisanship, is simply unacceptable." --Paul Day-Lucore, Denver

"It's impossible to believe that an expensive, nationwide search for a university president could yield only one candidate--and one so unqualified for the position." --Juliet Wittman, Boulder

# # #

Call to put the brakes on Bruce Benson
Launch of www.boycottbenson.com to investigate Benson's nomination as the sole nominee for presidency of CU

For Immediate Release: Sunday, February 3, 2008
Contact: Michael Huttner at (303) 931-4547

Denver: ProgressNow launched a new website, www.boycottbenson.com and called on the public to submit their comments concerning Republican oil executive Bruce Benson who was recently made the sole finalist for the University of Colorado's presidency. The online boycott was launched following questions about the legitimacy of the selection process and credible allegations of a pattern of misconduct by Benson.

"We are calling on the public to visit www.boycottbenson.com to oppose Benson's nomination to be CU's next President," stated ProgressNow's Executive Director Michael Huttner. "The regents must halt the selection process until an investigation can be completed."

The public has the right to know:

--The facts around statements made by Regent Shauer (R - 6th CD), who has to vote on Benson, that Benson threatened to orchestrate and pay for a primary against Shauer if he ran for Regent in 2008 (Rocky Mountain News, 1/31/2008).

--How the secretive process led to the sole nomination of a man who does not even hold the basic requirements of the position, such as any post graduate degree, academic research, or any experience in higher education administration.

--If the chair of the search committee, Steve Bosley, hand picked Benson and rigged the process to result in his sole nomination in direct contrast with the charge of the search committee to select three finalists.

"The selection process was questionable at best. No one should be the sole finalist for the presidency," stated Huttner. "This is not a coronation, the public has the right to know about Bruce Benson."

Problems for CU:

In order to ensure future funding for CU, the President needs to work with the Colorado lawmakers on both sides of the aisle:

Yet in 2006, Benson founded and funded the Trailhead Group, a right-wing 527 political action fund that was investigated for running questionable negative ads attacking sitting lawmakers, including Governor Bill Ritter and Bernie Buescher, the powerful Chairman of the Colorado's Joint Budget Committee (Boulder Daily Camera, February 1, 2008).

The Colorado House Majority Leader Alice Madden and Rep. Jack Pommer who also sits on the Joint Budget Committee--are on the record questioning Benson's fitness for the job and the process that got him there (Denver Post, February 1, 2008).

"At a minimum, regents Steve Bosley and Paul Shauer should recuse themselves from any further voting regarding Bruce Benson until this investigation is completed," stated Huttner. "The regents should halt this process until the public has all the facts."

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Bruce Benson News